WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.380 align:middle line:90%


00:00:02.380 --> 00:00:06.080 align:middle line:84%
- My name is Acharya Krishan
Kant Attri, I'm a Hindu priest.

00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:13.420 align:middle line:90%


00:00:13.420 --> 00:00:16.870 align:middle line:84%
So how I became a priest:
it's a long journey.

00:00:16.870 --> 00:00:19.750 align:middle line:84%
It started from
age of eight when

00:00:19.750 --> 00:00:23.280 align:middle line:84%
I was sent to a school of
theology called gurukula.

00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:26.080 align:middle line:84%
And I studied
there for 16 years.

00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:29.520 align:middle line:90%


00:00:29.520 --> 00:00:32.970 align:middle line:84%
My day begins about
4:30 in the morning.

00:00:32.970 --> 00:00:34.020 align:middle line:90%
I may just go for a run.

00:00:34.020 --> 00:00:34.935 align:middle line:90%
I may do jogging.

00:00:34.935 --> 00:00:37.500 align:middle line:90%


00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:40.290 align:middle line:84%
"Pandit ji" is a proper
name for a Hindu priest.

00:00:40.290 --> 00:00:43.890 align:middle line:84%
There are two words
there, "pandit" and "ji."

00:00:43.890 --> 00:00:45.990 align:middle line:84%
"Ji" is meant to be
for respect purpose.

00:00:45.990 --> 00:00:48.360 align:middle line:90%
But "pandit" is the actual word.

00:00:48.360 --> 00:00:51.420 align:middle line:84%
"Pujari" is a priest
who can conduct

00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:54.400 align:middle line:90%
a ceremony in the temple.

00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:56.440 align:middle line:90%
Then I may do a yoga.

00:00:56.440 --> 00:01:00.750 align:middle line:84%
Yoga is uniting yourself with
the physical and spiritual

00:01:00.750 --> 00:01:01.320 align:middle line:90%
body.

00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:06.190 align:middle line:84%
Yoga is uniting with
the Lord Almighty God.

00:01:06.190 --> 00:01:10.365 align:middle line:84%
Meditation is a method
to concentrate your mind.

00:01:10.365 --> 00:01:22.420 align:middle line:90%


00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:25.900 align:middle line:84%
I was given my sacred
thread on my shoulder.

00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:30.880 align:middle line:84%
It reminds me that I have got
some special responsibility

00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:33.655 align:middle line:84%
as a priest, as a
citizen of the society.

00:01:33.655 --> 00:01:36.520 align:middle line:90%


00:01:36.520 --> 00:01:40.180 align:middle line:84%
Puja is a special ritual
which is done daily,

00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:43.300 align:middle line:84%
not only by the Hindu priest
but the Hindu community.

00:01:43.300 --> 00:01:46.063 align:middle line:84%
Puja is praying to
Lord Almighty God.

00:01:46.063 --> 00:01:48.478 align:middle line:90%
- [CHANTING IN SANSKRIT]

00:01:48.478 --> 00:01:53.320 align:middle line:90%


00:01:53.320 --> 00:01:55.750 align:middle line:84%
So the temples are open
every day in the morning

00:01:55.750 --> 00:01:56.650 align:middle line:90%
and in the evening.

00:01:56.650 --> 00:01:58.900 align:middle line:84%
But some temples
are open all day.

00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:02.590 align:middle line:84%
The proper name for a
Hindu temple is mandir.

00:02:02.590 --> 00:02:05.920 align:middle line:84%
And mandir is a very
common name for a temple.

00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:06.850 align:middle line:90%
God is one.

00:02:06.850 --> 00:02:09.759 align:middle line:84%
But we believe that God
has many, many forms.

00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:12.520 align:middle line:84%
And that's why we have
many murtis in the temple.

00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:14.560 align:middle line:90%
Murtis are deities.

00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.740 align:middle line:84%
Deity is a word we
use in the temple

00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:21.520 align:middle line:90%
to describe Gods and Goddesses.

00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.890 align:middle line:84%
We believe in one
Almighty God but we

00:02:23.890 --> 00:02:28.100 align:middle line:84%
believe that one almighty
comes in different forms.

00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:37.840 align:middle line:84%
For example, it can be Shiva
and Parvati, Ganesh, Krishna

00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:53.230 align:middle line:84%
and Radha, goddess Durga, Rama,
Sita and Lakshman, and Hanuman.

00:02:53.230 --> 00:02:56.350 align:middle line:90%


00:02:56.350 --> 00:03:01.420 align:middle line:84%
When we start our prayers, we
think of Lord Almighty God,

00:03:01.420 --> 00:03:02.545 align:middle line:90%
and we chant "Aum."

00:03:02.545 --> 00:03:08.700 align:middle line:90%


00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:11.320 align:middle line:84%
Aum is a name of
Lord Almighty God.

00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:14.830 align:middle line:84%
It has got three
letters, A, U, and M.

00:03:14.830 --> 00:03:17.650 align:middle line:84%
When we chant "Aum"
we are thinking

00:03:17.650 --> 00:03:20.920 align:middle line:84%
of Lord who is a Creator,
who is a Preserver,

00:03:20.920 --> 00:03:22.720 align:middle line:90%
and who is also Destroyer.

00:03:22.720 --> 00:03:26.110 align:middle line:84%
Chant the name "Aum" and we
are praying to Lord Almighty.

00:03:26.110 --> 00:03:31.910 align:middle line:90%


00:03:31.910 --> 00:03:34.250 align:middle line:90%
Darshan is seeing the deity.

00:03:34.250 --> 00:03:39.260 align:middle line:84%
And when we see the deity, we
fold our hands and say, Lord,

00:03:39.260 --> 00:03:40.670 align:middle line:90%
you are in front of me.

00:03:40.670 --> 00:03:45.260 align:middle line:84%
If I close my eyes, I can see
you inside in my heart as well.

00:03:45.260 --> 00:03:47.190 align:middle line:84%
So we may say a
short prayer there.

00:03:47.190 --> 00:03:51.800 align:middle line:84%
Or we may just bow
down in front and pray.

00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.650 align:middle line:84%
Shrine is a place in the
temple where the murtis are

00:03:55.650 --> 00:03:57.460 align:middle line:90%
kept, where the Gods are kept.

00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:05.210 align:middle line:90%


00:04:05.210 --> 00:04:08.870 align:middle line:84%
Arti is a very,
very special term.

00:04:08.870 --> 00:04:11.780 align:middle line:84%
Arti means being part
of the Lord Almighty.

00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:15.980 align:middle line:84%
While we are singing the arti,
we light some wicks there

00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:21.709 align:middle line:84%
with the purified ghee and sing
the glory of the Lord Almighty.

00:04:21.709 --> 00:04:24.680 align:middle line:84%
And then we wave the lamp
in front of the deity there

00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:28.392 align:middle line:84%
that yes, whatever you have
given me, I'm grateful to you.

00:04:28.392 --> 00:04:30.100 align:middle line:84%
So we sing the glory
of Lord Almighty God

00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:33.800 align:middle line:90%
while we do the arti.

00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:38.310 align:middle line:84%
So after the arti is completed,
the tray is taken around.

00:04:38.310 --> 00:04:42.140 align:middle line:84%
They will touch the lamp there
and touch it to their eyes,

00:04:42.140 --> 00:04:45.768 align:middle line:84%
asking the light of knowledge
from Lord Almighty God.

00:04:45.768 --> 00:04:50.760 align:middle line:90%


00:04:50.760 --> 00:04:54.560 align:middle line:84%
Prasad is a very special
offering to Lord.

00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.370 align:middle line:84%
When we cook the food, we offer
that to Lord Almighty God.

00:04:58.370 --> 00:04:59.760 align:middle line:90%
It is not food anymore.

00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:01.460 align:middle line:84%
It becomes prasad
- blessed food.

00:05:01.460 --> 00:05:06.060 align:middle line:90%


00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:10.540 align:middle line:84%
Abhishekam is a very
special ceremony,

00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:14.130 align:middle line:84%
pouring a variety of
things on the Lord

00:05:14.130 --> 00:05:18.090 align:middle line:84%
like milk, yoghurt, honey, and
sugar, welcoming Lord Almighty

00:05:18.090 --> 00:05:22.318 align:middle line:84%
into our house, showing special
respect to Lord Almighty God.

00:05:22.318 --> 00:05:24.465 align:middle line:90%
- [CHANTING IN SANSKRIT]

00:05:24.465 --> 00:05:31.150 align:middle line:90%


00:05:31.150 --> 00:05:34.960 align:middle line:84%
- So holy Vedas is
our main holy book.

00:05:34.960 --> 00:05:37.150 align:middle line:90%
But then comes Upanishads.

00:05:37.150 --> 00:05:39.250 align:middle line:90%
Then we have Mahabharata.

00:05:39.250 --> 00:05:40.870 align:middle line:90%
We have Ramayana.

00:05:40.870 --> 00:05:42.680 align:middle line:90%
Then we have got Bhagavad Gita.

00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:46.850 align:middle line:90%
So Hindus have many holy books.

00:05:46.850 --> 00:05:49.820 align:middle line:84%
All the prayers are written
in Sanskrit language.

00:05:49.820 --> 00:05:52.280 align:middle line:84%
And then they are
translated according

00:05:52.280 --> 00:05:54.920 align:middle line:90%
to the need of the day.

00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:57.110 align:middle line:84%
If I am preparing
lunch myself, I'll

00:05:57.110 --> 00:06:02.360 align:middle line:84%
be making it a very simple one,
maybe chapatis, rice, dahl,

00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:04.130 align:middle line:90%
or some sabji there.

00:06:04.130 --> 00:06:05.900 align:middle line:90%
I am a vegetarian.

00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:10.370 align:middle line:84%
I don't take any meat products,
including fish, and alcohol,

00:06:10.370 --> 00:06:11.900 align:middle line:90%
and smoke.

00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:14.210 align:middle line:90%
And we believe in non-violence.

00:06:14.210 --> 00:06:18.080 align:middle line:84%
And we believe that we
should not kill any animal

00:06:18.080 --> 00:06:20.006 align:middle line:90%
while we are eating something.

00:06:20.006 --> 00:06:25.140 align:middle line:90%


00:06:25.140 --> 00:06:28.350 align:middle line:84%
In Hinduism, we
have caste system.

00:06:28.350 --> 00:06:30.750 align:middle line:84%
We have four castes
in Hinduism--

00:06:30.750 --> 00:06:33.730 align:middle line:84%
Brahmin, the priestly
caste, Kshatriyas

00:06:33.730 --> 00:06:37.065 align:middle line:84%
are the soldiers caste,
Vaishyas are the business class,

00:06:37.065 --> 00:06:40.020 align:middle line:84%
and the fourth one
is known as Shudras

00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:43.250 align:middle line:84%
who are doing other
works in the community.

00:06:43.250 --> 00:06:44.820 align:middle line:84%
I am from the
Brahmin background,

00:06:44.820 --> 00:06:47.610 align:middle line:90%
I'm Brahmin varna background.

00:06:47.610 --> 00:06:50.490 align:middle line:84%
Olden days, they used to have
strictly, only the Brahmin

00:06:50.490 --> 00:06:51.942 align:middle line:90%
is going to be the priest.

00:06:51.942 --> 00:06:58.260 align:middle line:84%
But nowadays, everybody
is mixed and mingled up.

00:06:58.260 --> 00:07:00.500 align:middle line:84%
You will see the
mark on my forehead,

00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:02.270 align:middle line:90%
it is known as tilaka.

00:07:02.270 --> 00:07:05.420 align:middle line:84%
All the priests, all the
people who visit the temple,

00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:08.260 align:middle line:84%
they will be just given the
mark there on the forehead.

00:07:08.260 --> 00:07:10.940 align:middle line:84%
It means a religious
symbol for them

00:07:10.940 --> 00:07:13.970 align:middle line:90%
or third eye, eye of knowledge.

00:07:13.970 --> 00:07:16.070 align:middle line:84%
When we do the
ritual in the temple,

00:07:16.070 --> 00:07:18.922 align:middle line:84%
we put a tikka on the
forehead of the deity.

00:07:18.922 --> 00:07:20.630 align:middle line:84%
But at the same time,
the priest may just

00:07:20.630 --> 00:07:22.970 align:middle line:84%
give a little tilaka
on our forehead there.

00:07:22.970 --> 00:07:24.590 align:middle line:90%
It's a special blessing.

00:07:24.590 --> 00:07:27.110 align:middle line:84%
But ladies, they
keep this tilaka

00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:28.620 align:middle line:90%
as a marriage symbol for them.

00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:34.420 align:middle line:90%


00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:37.310 align:middle line:84%
Harmonium is one of
the Indian instrument,

00:07:37.310 --> 00:07:39.670 align:middle line:84%
with - the keys are
played with one hand,

00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:41.680 align:middle line:84%
and air is blown
with other hand.

00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:45.190 align:middle line:84%
And it just gives a
melodious sound there

00:07:45.190 --> 00:07:46.578 align:middle line:90%
while we are praying.

00:07:46.578 --> 00:07:50.330 align:middle line:90%


00:07:50.330 --> 00:07:52.730 align:middle line:84%
During my spare
time, I do watch TV

00:07:52.730 --> 00:07:55.400 align:middle line:84%
just to get some update
from the society.

00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:58.100 align:middle line:90%
I finish my day about 10:00 pm.

00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:03.415 align:middle line:84%
Before I go to sleep, I
do a short meditation.

00:08:03.415 --> 00:08:06.270 align:middle line:84%
The most rewarding
thing in my life

00:08:06.270 --> 00:08:11.010 align:middle line:84%
is helping people with moral,
pastoral and spiritual way.

00:08:11.010 --> 00:08:15.030 align:middle line:84%
And if I can be a help to
any member of my society,

00:08:15.030 --> 00:08:18.330 align:middle line:84%
my community there, not only
Hindu society, but the wider

00:08:18.330 --> 00:08:21.570 align:middle line:84%
community, and if I can
make them smile again,

00:08:21.570 --> 00:08:25.890 align:middle line:84%
I feel that I have achieved
something on that day.

00:08:25.890 --> 00:08:28.804 align:middle line:90%